Often described as ‘a world in one country’, South Africa is one of the world’s great tourist destinations. An excellent climate, natural beauty, first-rate infrastructure and welcoming people made this country the world’s fastest-growing tourism destination. Added to these attractions is the fascinating story, accessible through ordinary people and historical monuments, of the transition from apartheid to democracy.
South Africa offers the visitor a multitude of destinations. Cape Town, considered as one of the top 10 destination in the world, the Kruger Park, the Garden Route and the pleasure resort of Sun City are the few of the much sought after stops on any itinerary.
Tourism
South Africa tourist destinations would captivate the mind of travellers of all age groups. The fastest-growing segment of tourism in South Africa is ecological tourism (ecotourism), which includes nature photography, bird-watching, botanical studies, snorkelling, hiking and mountaineering. The national and provincial parks in South Africa, as well as private game reserves, involve local communities in the conservation and management of natural resources.
Community tourism is becoming increasingly popular, with tourists keen to experience many rural villages and townships across the country. Whether foreign tourists crave for endless beaches, birding, sports tours, the Big Five, historic battlefields, hunting, mountains, bush or forest, millions of people are discovering South Africa as an exceptional holiday destination
Among the attractions are breathtaking Cape Town nestling at the foot of Table Mountain, Cape Point, where two oceans meet, Cape Town’s laid-back, welcoming attitude and fabulous nightlife. Along with Robben Island, the prison in Cape Town’s Table Bay where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated, the delights of Sun City and many first-rate casino resorts, walking in the spectacular Drakensberg mountains. Johannesburg’s moving, state-of-the-art new Apartheid Museum, the Big Hole in Kimberley, the world’s biggest man-made hole and fly fishing in stunning scenery are few amongst all.
Language
South Africa is not called the rainbow nation for nothing. South Africa has 11 official languages and scores of unofficial ones. English is the most commonly spoken language in official and commercial life, only the sixth most spoken home language.
Weather
South Africa is a year round destination. Summers are hot but the cities located on the higher altitudes can be visited during the season. However, the best time for visit is spring. South Africa has the seasons typical for the southern hemisphere, with the coldest days in July-August. In winter, also due to altitude, temperatures drop to the freezing point, and in some places, even lower. Heavy snowfall is experienced for the first time in Johannesburg. During winter, it is warmest in the coastal regions, especially on the east of Indian Ocean coast.
| General | |
| Language | Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Time Zone | SAST (UTC +2) |
| Dialing Code | +27 |
| Electricity | 220V, 50Hz |
| Major Cities | Buffalo, Cape town, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Johannesburg. |
| Currency | Rand |
| Clothing | Depending on your activities pack your things accordingly, is planning a safari trip pack non-synthetic clothes. Temperature drops at night so also pack a jacket. |
| Health Related |
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| Mortality Rate | 42.5/ 1000 |
| Life Expectancy | M 65/ F 69 |
| Patient: Physician Ratio | 1300: 1 |
| Hospitals JCI accredited | 0 |
| Recommended Vaccination | Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Diphtheria-tetanus, Poliomyelitis, Varicella, Yellow fever, Measles |
| Other Infections | Schistosomiasis (snail fever), Marburg fever, Tick-borne relapsing fever, African tick bite fever, West Nile fever, Anthrax, Plague, HIV |
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Tourism Related |
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| Population | 49,991,300 |
| Global Competitiveness | 4.32 |
| Tourism Competitiveness | 4.1/7 |
| GDP/Capita | 5,823 |
| Health and Hygiene | 3.8/7 |
| Safety and Security | 3.5/7 |
| Air Transport Infrastructure | 3.9/7 |
| Tourism Infrastructure | 4.0/7 |
| Cultural Infrastructure | 2.9/7 |
| Visa Requirements | 28/133 |
| Reliability of Police Services | 108/133 |
| Physician Density | 93/133 |
| Hospital Beds | 66/133 |
| Quality of Air Transport Infrastructure | 25/133 |
| International Air Transport Network | 12/133 |
| Quality of Roads | 40/133 |
| Hotel Rooms | 91/133 |
| Tourism Openness | 78/133 |
| Attitude of Population Towards Foreign Visitors | 49/133 |